Chapter Two - Darcy, II
"Hey, Darcy! I just want to say thanks for lending me some of your old clothes when you left for Kenya way back when. You have such good tastes!" Alli compliments.
"Anytime, Alli," I say, "Actually, scratch that. I like my clothes now!"
The three of us giggle at my joke and that's when I notice Peter behind the counter. And Spinner!
"I'm going to go grab some pop. Do you guys want anything?" I ask.
"No, thanks. I'm good," Clare turns down.
Alli flashes her pearly whites and says, "I just had wings with my boyfriend before you guys came so I'm good too! Thanks, though."
"Alright," I say.
I swear Peter knew I was coming back already because he didn't exactly seem incredibly surprised as I would have imagined him to be. In fact, he hasn't even noticed me at all. Before I can grab his attention, I hear part of his conversation with Spin... About drugs?
"She pulled out fucking codeine like it was candy. I later find out that she died and was revived by doctors a week later from her friend who came here to tell me that she was sorry. Fuck, just my luck, hey? Degrassi chicks are officially off limits for me, now."
Spinner is washing some dishes, "Smart decision, man."
Spinner takes notice of me first.
"Darcy Edwards! Do my eyes deceive me?" he yells.
"Hey, Spin!" I yell back as he runs to me around the counter and hugs me.
"This is crazy!" he shouts.
"I know!" I agree, "Peter! Hey."
"Darcy," he exchanges names. I thought he would be a little excited.
"Emma will be so stoked to hear from you," Spinner tells me.
"Really? You sure?"
"That's in the past, Darcy," Spinner assures me.
Peter is still avoiding eye contact.
"Alright, then! How about I meet you married couple for lunch tomorrow?" I make plans with Spinner.
"Yeah, for sure! I won't be working then and Emma will be back from her camping trip with her family. Perfect," Spinner seems the relish the thought.
"Peter, you can say something," Spin adds.
"In private?" Peter coughs.
"Yeah, it's cool," I let Spinner know.
"Alright. Picking it back off where you left already, huh, lovebirds?" Spinner gags.
"Haha," Peter says sarcastically.
Spinner gets back to work, and I guide Peter to another table, but I notice Clare sitting alone. Alli must've left. I am still looking and that's when Clare exchanges glances and she taps at an imaginary watch. Time to head to Dad's.
"Peter," I stop him.
"What?"
"I have to head to my Dad's, but promise me, that you will call me tonight. Clare gave you my new number, I'm assuming?"
"Yeah," he says, "Of course."
"Thanks for waiting. Sorry. I'll talk to you tonight," I vow.
Clare and I leave and begin taking our stroll.
"Dad's new condo is not too far from here. Bet you are missing Queen Street, huh? We'll go shopping. You can go into Forever 21 while I check out some books in Chapters," Clare chuckles.
I still can't help but have this big goofy grin on my face that usually only Clare gets.
"Yeah," I agree, "You know, Clare, you've matured so greatly. You're beautiful."
"Thanks, Darce. You're beautiful, too. Like I said earlier, I have a lot to tell you! We barely got to talk last night with Mom's commentary on all of your wild stories," Clare mentions.
"About this guy, Eli? Last time we Skype'd you said that you two kissed!" I said, squealing.
"Yes," Clare had begun, "About that... He and I are doing a lot better..."
I clasped Clare's hand and held it tightly. I never want to lose Clare.
I already lost one of the most important things to me. My virginity, and I have even lost my parents. I guess I was expecting them to divorce anyway. I think I remember seeing my Dad kissing another woman at the movie theatre when I snuck out late on a school night to see Step Up with Chantay. I'm surprised Chantay kept her mouth shut. I tried so hard to repress that thought out of my mind, but now, I think it's safe to say I didn't do a great enough job. Then after my suicide attempts... They just couldn't handle being in the same room without arguing. I saw it coming but just didn't care at the time.
All I know for sure is that Mom and Dad are happy without each other. At least, I think Dad is.
Jake and Glen are awesome and I'm sure this Irene character is too, plus her two toddlers Dad mentioned on the phone when I was at Calgary's airport.
"You know, Clare," I say after she finishes her story, "I know we never really talked about what happened to me because you were really too young to fully understand. I want to talk about these things. I want to help you out with guys. I want to read your poems and stories. I want to just hang out like we are right now."
"I'm surprised we aren't fighting!" Clare exclaims.
"Haha! True, true. Back then, I just felt really mixed up. I still do, now," I admit.
"A person can be good and mixed up all at the same time," Clare lets me know.
And I really hope Clare is right.
